When you visit the island of Maui in Hawaii, there is one experience that literally rises above all others: Watching the sunrise at Haleakala National Park.
Watching The Sunrise At Haleakala National Park (Maui, Hawaii)
The first thing you need to know is there is some prep work involved.
Planning And Making Reservations
Due to the popularity of the Sunrise at Haleakala, the National Park Services manages the number of people going to the top. You’ll now need to make a reservation before you go.
Here’s what the official National Park Service has to say.
Image courtesy of NPS.gov
Per the above, you’ll need to go to recreation.gov to make the reservation for the night you plan on going.
The bad news is the parking is still limited and the lots fill up quick. The good news is you can usually get parking and a reservation costs only $1.00.
What To Wear
The summit of the Haleakala volcano lies above 10,000 feet! What that means for you in real terms is it’s gonna be cold.
Instead of telling you what to wear, I’ll just show you.
Now I’ll tell you. Bring a coat, and a blanket, and maybe even a hotel beach towel.
When To Get There
The next thing you need to know is Haleakala National Park opens at 3:00 am. To have any hope of getting parking at one of the prized parking lots at the top, you should plan on being at the park entrance by at least 3:00 am.
FHOP Tip: Don’t worry if you’re a little early, you’ll still be allowed in the park even if it’s before 3:00 am.
Getting There
Don’t be fooled, Haleakala may look close, but it’s not.
To get from the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas in Ka’anapali (on the west side of this island) to just the entrance of the park will take you at least 1.5 hours.
It’ll take a total of 2 hours to get to the summit for sunrise.
The Drive Up
Once you arrive at the entrance gate to Haleakala National Park, there is still another 30 minutes of driving on high and winding roads in the pitch dark. Take your time (and bring some coffee).
The entrance sign to Haleakala National Park
The Parking Situation
There are two parking lots, but the one you want [with the observation room] is the one at the top. There are a lot of parking spaces, but they will all be gone by 3:20 am. Plan accordingly. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
The Wee Hours And The Crack Of Dawn
The first light
There is an observation room, but it’ll fill up quick. Don’t panic, you’ll likely find space on the deck outside.
FHOP Tip: Arguably, there is a better spot than the observation room to watch the sunrise. Across the parking lot from the observation room is a hill with a straight shot view of the sunrise. Take care not to step on any of the rare plants or animals you may run across.Â
Waiting For The Sun
The Sunrise
Now for the main event.
After The Sunrise
Once the sun has risen, you’ll notice some people jump in their cars and head straight back to their hotel. These people are fools.
Remember, you are in a National Park on top of a volcano, there are tons of great things to see and do!
The Observatory
Check out the observatories
Hiking Trails
Walk some of the trails and take in the 360 degree views
Check Out Rare Plant Species That Grow Here (And Nowhere Else In The World)
But stay on the trails!
The Visitor Center
The Big Island of Hawaii looms in the distance
Stop At The “Look Out” Points
The Siding Sands Trail
View of Kahului
The “Other” Visitor Center (At The Bottom Of The Volcano)
Final Thoughts: Watching The Sunrise At Haleakala National Park (Maui, Hawaii)
I almost can’t convey in words what an amazing experience Haleakala is. Sunrise is great. Sure, it gives you reason to go, but the truth is the volcano is the star of this show. The experience of Haleakala is unlike anything else on planet earth.
Haleakala National Park is one of the greatest parks of the U.S. National Park system. Plan on staying at least a half day. Whether you go for sunrise, sunset, or even the middle of the day – Haleakala is not to be missed!
Cheers!
Self-portrait: Me, wearing a coat, standing on a volcano
1 comment
[…] High on Points wrote about their experience watching the sunrise from Haleakala National Park on Maui. While Sharon and I didn’t see the sunrise, we did go horseback riding into the crater and […]
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